Automatic fire-extinguisher for railroad-cars



J. M. TIERNAN E H S TL U G N Tl. T X E E nn I n... nu TI- T A M Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

MJ F Emi-WY i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. TIERNAN, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH OAROLIN A.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER FOR RAILROAD-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,642, dated October 18, 188'7.

Application filed March 2l, 18:7. Selial No. 231,706. (No model.)

To all whom 116 may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs M. TIERNAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Automatic Fire-Extingnisher for Oar Stoves and Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an automatic fireextinguishingapparatus suitable for use in connection with a car-heater, and has for its object to provide means for instantaneously projecting a gas which will notsupport combustion upon a tire or flame upon the occurrence of an accident to the car or vehicle sufficient to disturb its equilibrium; and it consists in the matters hereinafter described and particularly pointed out.

Figure l represents a side elevation, partly in section, of the extinguishing apparatus. Fig. 2-is an enlarged view of a portion of the grooved floor. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the valve, valve-cover, gaspipe, cock, and operating-lever on an enlarged scale.

A indicates a tank or receptacle for the extinguishing-gas, which maybe introduced into said tank in any well-known way. It has been heretofore proposed to hold such gas under compression, ready for instant use in extinguishing a iire ou the movement of a valve, and it has also been proposed to provide means for the automatic generation of a gas-such as carbonic-acid gas-on the occurrence of an accident to the vehicle conveying the extinguishing apparatus sufficient to open acommunieation between different compartments containing gas-generating materials. It is obvious that a tank containing compressed gas will afford means forprompter action than a gas-generating tank. The present invention,however, does not simply relate to the means of supplying gas, but to devices for automatically opening communication between a source of gassupply and the chamber or space in which a iire or ilame is located.

A carstove is denoted at E, which may be of any approved pattern, the drawings barely indicating a chamber or space, which may be over a fire or flame which itv is desired to extinguish upon the occasion of the overturning of the tank or of the vehicle or chamber in which the tank is located, or upon the occurrence of a collision or other accident of such character as to upset or break a stove or lamp. Below the tank is a comparatively shallow chamber having a door, D, provided with grooves or channels 71,which cross each other, as indicated in Fig. 2. The number of the grooves is not material, though there should be at least two, and if but two they are preferably made to cross each other at right angles. At their intersection au opening, b, is provided, through which a chain, f, passes. This chain is connected with the lever F at any suitable point, as g, and has its opposite end fasts eued to a bail, e, of a cup or cover, G. This bail is preferably secured to pivots c' in such manner as to move freely on said pivots, though a rigid connection of anykind may be used. Under the cover a ball| is placed so as to rest at the intersection of the grooves and over an opening, b. The chamber containing the extinguishing material is connected with a tire or flame chamber by a pipe, H, which may be composed of a dexible part, a, made of gutta'percha or other suitable material,and a rigid part, a', made, preferably, of a nonvcorrodible metal or alloy. The pipe His provided with a cock,to an extension of which the lever F is attached in such manner that the upward movement ot' the end gof said lever opens the cock and establishes communication between tank A and chamber E.

The tank, pipe, and cock may be made of any suitable material,which should, however, be of a character to resist the corrosive effect of any gases that are used or any substances that may be carried by suspension in such gas or gases.

The operation of the extinguisher can read ily be understood from the foregoing. rIhe tank having been supplied with an incombus- 'tible gas-such as carbonio acid, preferably under a considerable degree of pressure-or with means for rapidly generating gas-such as are well known and have been heretofore used in extinguishing apparatus-and thelever F and chainfhaving been adjusted to a position substantially such i as indicated in the drawings, the cock in pipe H is kept closed by the weight of the lever and the apparatus is in readiness for operation whenever from any cause the ball maybe caused to move from its seat with sutiicient force to move its cover and.

the chain connecting the cover and the lever.

' The ball is smaller than its cover, and is supof a severe collision,will impel the ball in one direction or another and along one of the grooves It with sufficient force to push before it the cover and draw up the chain and open l the cock in pipe H, whereupon the extinguishing-1uid will immediately iiow through said pipe into the tire-chamber at E. Under some conditions the cover might perhaps be used independently, and might perhaps operate to draw up the chain and lever without the aid of the hall; but the latter is essential to the most successful operation. Its initial movement isA not hampered by any weight, and, be-

ing free to move through a small spacehit acquires suiieient momentum to act eiiiciently in raising the lever and opening the cock.

Pressure in the tank A is not essential to the operation, since a heavy extinguishingluid will be carried down by gravity if the tank be placed above a tire-chamber. The tank can be placed in any convenient position and secured to its support b v the usual means. The flexible portion of pipe H provides for the easy adjustment ot the position of the tank and connected parts with relation to the stove or lamp. An independent cock may be pro vided in pipe H above the cock before described for the more .secure and convenient closing 'of said pipe when desired.'

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1sl. The combination, in an extinguishing apparatus,of acar-stove, a gas-tank, a dischargepipe provided with a cock and connected lever, a ball supported at the intersection of grooves in a supporting-floor, said supporting-door, a cover for the ball, and a chain connecting the cover and the lever, substantiallyas specified.

2. The combination, in an extinguishing apparatus, of a gas-tank, a discharge-pipe provided with a cock and connected lever, a ball resting at the intersection of grooves in a supporting-door, said supporting-Hoor, a cover for the ball, and a chain attached to the cover and extended through a perforation in the iioor to the free end of the lever, substantially as set forth. Y

3. In an extinguishing apparatus, the com; bination of the ball, the supportingtloor, the cover, the chain, the lever, the pipeand cock", and the gas-tank, substantially as specified.

4. In an extinguishing apparatus, the coingA bination of the grooved floor, the balhand the, cover, substantially as set forth, whereby the ball and cover are moved in the direction of one of the grooves upon the tilting of the floor;`

5. In an extinguishing apparatus, the coni,- bnationof the grooved supporting-.floor, the ball resting at the intersection of the grooves, the cover provided with a pivoted bail,y the chain connected to the bail and extended through an opening at the intersection of ,the grooves and attached to the lever, the lever, the gas pipe and cock, anda car-stove, sub stantially as set forth.

J.- M. TIERNAN.

Witnesses:

ALEX. Soo'rT, Jos. P. CULLEN. 

